Method and System for Presenting Statistical Data in a Natural Language Format

ABSTRACT

A computer-implemented method for presenting statistical analysis in a natural language textual output comprising: receiving data to be analyzed by the processor; processing the data according to at least one of a plurality of pre-established statistical analysis types, thereby providing processed data; interpreting the processed data by converting the processed data to a pre-determined natural language text, thereby providing interpreted data; and generating a natural language textual output for the interpreted data according to at least one pre-established rule for converting the interpreted data to a natural language textual output.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to a method for processing and interpreting statistical analyses and presenting the results of the analyses as plain language text. More particularly, this disclosure relates to the interpretation of statistical data including, but not limited to, inferential statistical analyses, supervised and unsupervised models, non-parametric analysis (e.g., Mann Whitney test), data mining analyses (association rules, neural networks, generalized additive models, classification and regression trees, predictive models, CHAID models, cluster analyses, data reduction, classification models), time series models, structural equation models, medical informatics, bioinformatics, and fraud detection models.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Statistical analysis is vital in almost every industry. But connecting mathematical values and results to their natural language meaning has troubled generations. Thus, while experts are able to understand the meaning of the statistical analysis, those with less expertise are not.

Thus, there exists a need in the industry to overcome these interpretation problems and provide a method and system for presenting statistical analysis in a natural language textual output.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment, this disclosure provides a computer-implemented method for interpreting and presenting statistical analysis in a natural language textual output, the computer-implemented method employing a processor and comprising receiving data to be analyzed by the processor and processing the data according to at least one of a plurality of pre-established statistical analysis types, thereby providing processed data. The method may further comprise interpreting the processed data by converting the processed data to a pre-determined natural language text, thereby providing interpreted data, and generating a natural language textual output for the interpreted data according to at least one pre-established rule for converting the interpreted data to a natural language textual output. The computer-implemented method may be configured to function in a dynamic real-time mode.

The disclosed method has several important advantages. For example, the disclosed method permits the rapid interpretation of complex statistical data by a layperson.

A further possible advantage of the disclosed method includes enabling a chief marketing officer to rapidly interpret a propensity to purchase or churn models.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure may have none, some, or all of these advantages. Other technical advantages of the present disclosure may also be readily apparent to one skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following descriptions, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart outlining the steps of one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 depicts a system in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts or steps throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure relates to a method for analyzing statistical data and presenting the analysis in a textual or prose format (i.e., common language). The method will use stored rules for determining the interpretation of the statistical data and the text of the output. The method can function in conjunction with a computer processor in a dynamic, real-time mode. One possible example is the interpretation of statistical data on who is likely to purchase particular product. The various components of the present invention, and the manner in which they interrelate, are described in greater detail hereinafter.

Initially with reference to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the present invention comprises a computer-implemented method 10 for presenting statistical analysis in a natural language textual output, the method employing a processor and comprising providing pre-established plain language descriptive text 24, providing a plurality of pre-established statistical analysis types 32, wherein the statistical analysis types include frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, inferential statistical analyses, non-parametric analysis, data mining analyses (association rules, neural networks, generalized additive models, classification and regression trees, predictive models, CHAID models, cluster analyses, data reduction, classification models), supervised and unsupervised models, time series models, structural equation models, medical informatics, bioinformatics, and fraud detection models.

One embodiment of the present invention further comprises selecting at least one of the plurality of pre-established statistical analysis types 64, coordinating at least one of the plurality of pre-established statistical analysis types with at least a portion of the pre-established plain language descriptive text 68, receiving data to be analyzed by the processor 72, wherein the data comprises at least one of numerals and parameters.

Another embodiment of the present invention further comprises organizing the data to permit the data to be analyzed in accordance with the selected pre-established statistical analysis type 80, thereby providing organized data, and processing the organized data according to the selected pre-established statistical analysis type and output 88, wherein the processing is performed by a statistical analysis tool, for providing processed data.

Yet another embodiment of the invention further comprises interpreting the processed data by converting the processed data to pre-determined natural language text 100, thereby providing interpreted data.

Another embodiment of the invention further comprises generating a natural language textual output 108 for the interpreted data according to at least one pre-established rule, the at least one pre-established rule comprising merging at least a portion of the pre-established plain language descriptive text with the natural language text, wherein the output may comprise at least one graphic display, and wherein the graphic display is selected from the group consisting of a table, a chart, and a graph, and providing the natural language textual output in a computer file 112, wherein the computer file displays the natural language textual output.

Turning to FIG. 2, a system 200 in accordance with the present disclosure is depicted. The system 200 comprises a statistics engine 202, an interpretation engine 204, and a formatting engine 206. The statistics engine 202, interpretation engine 204, and formatting engine 206 are each preferably configured to run on one or more processors. These processors may be located in one or more machines, and may communicate with one another through any communication capability, such as a bus, a network, various servers, or the like. In another embodiment, each these engines may run on the same processor.

In a preferred embodiment, the interpretation engine 204 may include a secure login module 220. This secure login module 220 may interact with a database to manage user credentials and the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the statistics engine 202 uses a statistical analysis tool. The statistics engine 202 is preferably configured to process data to be processed. Thus, the statistics engine 202 preferably receives raw or pre-formatted data and performs statistical analysis on that data. The data (both before and after processing) may be stored or persisted in one or more databases 208. In one embodiment, the database 208 is a MySQL database.

The interpretation engine 204 receives the statistical analysis data from the statistics engine 202 and interprets that data according to pre-configured rules. These rules may also be stored in one or more databases 208, or may be hard-coded into the interpretation engine 204. The interpretation rules may be stored separately from the data itself.

The formatting engine 206 receives the interpreted data and displays the natural language textual output based upon the interpreted data. This output 210 is preferably formatted interpreted data based upon the statistical analysis and interpretation performed by the statistics engine 202 and interpretation engine 204.

In one preferred embodiment, the formatting engine 206 generates a word processing file, such as a MICROSOFT WORD file. This word processing file includes natural language prose providing analysis and interpretation based on the data processed by the system 200.

It should be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the methods described herein can be configured to function in a dynamic, real-time mode.

It will be understood by those of skill in the art that flowcharts and block diagrams herein described may illustrate architecture, algorithms, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments. Therefore, it will be understood that each block in the flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable computer program instructions for implementing the specified logical function or functions. Further, some implementations may include the functions in the blocks occurring out of the order as herein presented. By way of non-limiting example, two blocks shown in succession may be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may at times be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and flowcharts, and combinations of blocks in the block diagram and flowchart illustrations, may be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer program instructions.

The method 100 and system 200 may preferably be implemented in a computing system, which can include a personal computer, a workstation, a network computer, a hand held computer, or any other computing system. Further, the system 200 may be written as a software program in any appropriate computer language.

The system 200 includes one or more processing devices, which may be any computer processing unit, and could be a single central processing unit, or a number of processing units configured to operate either in sequence or in parallel. The processing device can be configured to execute software processes which implement the steps disclosed herein. The system may also include a memory capable of storing the steps necessary for a processing device to implement the steps disclosed herein. This memory could be in the form of memory resident within the processing device or in the form of standalone memory coupled to the processing unit via a communication path, such as a bus or a network.

Although this disclosure has been described in terms of certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does not constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method for presenting statistical analysis findings in a natural language textual output, the computer-implemented method employing a processor and comprising: providing pre-established plain language descriptive text; providing a plurality of pre-established statistical analysis types, wherein the analysis types include at least one of inferential statistical analyses, non-parametric analysis, data mining analyses (association rules, neural networks, generalized additive models, classification and regression trees, predictive models, CHAID models, cluster analyses, data reduction, classification models), supervised and unsupervised models, time series models, structural equation models, medical informatics, bioinformatics, and fraud detection models; selecting at least one of the plurality of pre-established statistical analysis types; aligning the at least one of the plurality of pre-established statistical analysis types with at least a portion of the pre-established plain language descriptive text; receiving data to be analyzed by the processor, wherein the data comprises at least one of numerals and parameters; organizing the data to permit the data to be analyzed in accordance with the selected pre-established statistical analysis type, thereby providing organized data; processing the organized data according to the selected pre-established statistical analysis type, wherein the processing is performed by a statistical analysis tool for providing processed data; interpreting the processed data by converting the processed data to a pre-determined natural language text, thereby providing interpreted data; generating a natural language textual output for the interpreted data according to at least one pre-established rule, the at least one pre-established rule comprising merging at least a portion of the pre-established plain language descriptive text with the natural language text, wherein the output further comprises at least one graphic display, and wherein the graphic display is selected from the group consisting of a table, a chart, and a graph; and providing the natural language textual output in a computer file, wherein a computer displays the computer file.
 2. A computer-implemented method for presenting statistical analysis in a natural language textual output, the computer-implemented method employing a processor and comprising: receiving data to be analyzed by the processor; processing the data according to at least one of a plurality of pre-established statistical analysis types, thereby providing processed data; interpreting the processed data by converting the processed data to a pre-determined natural language text, thereby providing interpreted data; and generating a natural language textual output for the interpreted data according to at least one pre-established rule for converting the interpreted data to a natural language textual output.
 3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising providing pre-established plain language descriptive text and aligning at least one of a plurality of statistical analysis types with at least a portion of the pre-established plain language descriptive text.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of pre-established statistical analysis types include at least one of inferential statistical analyses, non-parametric analysis, data mining analyses (association rules, neural networks, generalized additive models, classification and regression trees, predictive models, CHAID models, cluster analyses, data reduction, classification models), supervised and unsupervised models, time series models, structural equation models, medical informatics, bioinformatics, and fraud detection models.
 5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising selecting at least one of the plurality of pre-established statistical analysis types.
 6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the data further comprises at least one of numerals and parameters.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the data comprises economic data.
 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the data comprises business data.
 9. The method according to claim 2, further comprising organizing the data to permit the data to be analyzed in accordance with the at least one of a plurality of pre-established statistical analysis types, thereby providing organized data.
 10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising processing the organized data according to the at least one of a plurality of statistical analysis types.
 11. The method according to claim 2, wherein the processing is performed by a statistical analysis tool for providing processed data.
 12. The method according to claim 3, wherein the at least one pre-established rule further comprises merging at least a portion of the pre-established plain language descriptive text with the pre-determined natural language text.
 13. The method according to claim 2, wherein the natural language textual output further comprises at least one graphic display.
 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one graphic display is selected from the group consisting of a table, a chart, and a graph.
 15. The method according to claim 2, further comprising providing the natural language textual output in a computer file.
 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein a computer displays the computer file.
 17. The method according to claim 2, wherein the method functions in a real time mode.
 18. A system for presenting statistical analysis in a natural language textual output, the system comprising: a statistics analysis engine implemented to run on a processor; an interpretation engine implemented to run on a processor; and a formatting engine implemented to run on a processor, wherein the statics engine processes data to be processed and provides the processed data to the interpretation engine, the interpretation engine configured to convert the processed data into interpreted data, the interpreted data being provided to the formatting engine wherein the formatting engine is configured to generate natural language textual output for the interpreted data.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the statistics engine is a statistical analysis tool.
 20. The system of claim 18, wherein the statistics analysis engine, interpretation engine, and formatting engine communicate with each other over a network. 